John Lawlor Dies: ‘The Facts Of Life’, ‘Phyllis’ Actor Was 83

John Lawlor, an actor who had made a string of guest shots on various mid-’70s TV series before landing a regular role in 1976 on Cloris Leachman’s The Mary Tyler Moore Show spin-off Phyllis on CBS and just more than a decade later played Headmaster Bradley on NBC’s popular sitcom The Facts of Life, died February 13 at a veterans’ hospice facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was 83.

His death was announced by his family, who write, “John will be remembered for his great love and affection for his family, his work and enjoyment of theater, television, movies, literature, and of course, his beloved horses.”

Born June 5, 1941, in Troy, New York, Lawlor graduated from the University of Colorado, and would perform with the Nomad players, a theater troupe founded in 1951 that would include such actors as Lawlor, Larry Linville and Joan Van Ark.

A U.S. Army veteran with service in Vietman, Lawlor launched his television career with with mid-’70s roles on The Rockford Files, Ellery Queen and Black Sheep Cauldron, among others, before landing the role of politician Leonard Marsh for the second and final season of Phyllis (1976–1977). Like Ted Baxter of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lawlor’s character was dim but telegenic, and more often than not conflicted with Leachman’s widowed Phyllis Leachman.

One-off appearances would follow on Alice, Barney Miller and other shows until he landed the one-season role of the headmaster on The Fact of Live. Lawlor was gone by the second season as produced trimmed the cast to focus on young stars Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn and their adult figure Charlotte Rae.

While Lawlor would never have another series regular role, he continued making numerous guest appearances on series through the ’80s, ’90s, 2000s and 2010s. Among the shows: Newhart, T.J. Hooker, Simon & Simon, Sledge Hammer!, She’s The Sheriff, Knots Landing, L.A. Law, Cold Case, Longmire, and, most recently in 2017, his final credit with four episodes of Godless.

As an assistant director on features, Lawlor’s credits in the ’80s and ’90s include Excalibur, Highlander, A Prayer for the Dying and Driftwood.